macroscopic

USAGE SUMMARY

"macroscopic" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use the word to refer to something that is able to be seen with the naked eye, or on a large scale. For example, "The macroscopic details of the painting made it appear much more realistic than the original photograph."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The quantum measurement device must be a macroscopic object with macroscopically different states corresponding to different outcomes.

SEP

They consist of two electrodes known, by historical analogy with the structure of their ancient macroscopic ancestors, as plates.

The Economist

Air slipping along the fuselage moves slower, so the engines ingest less oxygen and burn less fuel.Making planes more slipperyChanging the shape of an aircraft can be done at a microscopic as well as a macroscopic level.

The Economist

Such macroscopic wavefunctions are the stuff which superconductors are made on.

The Economist

Whatever the UNEP looked at tended to be close-to; one-off problems such as oil spills, nothing like the macroscopic Gaia vision that UNEP propounds these days.The programme's present director is Achim Steiner.

The Economist

You would, therefore, have expected that macroscopic differences between species are reflected in differences between the molecular structure of these proteins, but this is not so.

The Economist

The wavefunction describes just how wave-like a particle actually is.Normally, the microscopic wavefunctions of the electrons in a material combine in a way that blurs out their waviness on a macroscopic scale.

The Economist

This is only partly because it would fly about 10% slower than today's airliners".Changing the shape of an aircraft can be done at a microscopic as well as a macroscopic level .Tail wings push the back of an aircraft down, increasing drag, in order to lift its nose up.

The Economist

But, in a miniaturised version of the shift to wireless communication in the macroscopic world, a group of researchers led by Alain Nogaret of the University of Bath, in England, think they can make chips whose components talk to each other wirelessly.At present, the electronics that transmit and receive the radio waves used in wireless devices are too large to be used within individual chips.

The Economist

But in some circumstances, in particular at low temperatures, the wavefunctions of most of the electrons can oscillate in harmony, leading to esoteric macroscopic effects.

The Economist

It would have to be a liquid that, in the jargon of quantum mechanics, had a "macroscopic wavefunction".Wavefunctions are what make the microscopic world of quantum physics appear so different from the macroscopic world that people operate in.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing phenomena, use "macroscopic" to specify that the observation or measurement is made without the aid of magnification or specialized instruments.

Common error

Avoid using "macroscopic" when the appropriate term is "large" or "general" if you are not specifically contrasting it with microscopic or molecular levels of detail.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "macroscopic" functions primarily to describe objects, properties, or phenomena that are observable or measurable without the aid of magnification or specialized instruments. Ludwig highlights that the word is often used in opposition to "microscopic".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

55%

News & Media

35%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "macroscopic" is an adjective that refers to objects or phenomena visible to the naked eye, without the need for magnification. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is valid and frequently used in the English language. It commonly appears in scientific and news contexts, often contrasting with "microscopic". When writing, it's important to use "macroscopic" when you want to specify the scale of observation and avoid it when simply referring to something as "large" or "general". Related phrases include "visible to the naked eye" and "large-scale". The term's prevalence in authoritative sources like The Economist and the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy underscores its significance in both scientific and general discourse.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

macroscopical

Synonym of "macroscopic", interchangeable in many contexts.

naked-eye

Directly states that the object is visible without any optical aids.

visible to the naked eye

Emphasizes the property of being observable without aid, directly relating to the visual aspect.

plainly visible

Highlights the clarity and obviousness of the visual aspect.

readily visible

Emphasizes the ease with which something can be seen.

observable without instruments

Highlights the direct observability without the need for tools, focusing on ease of observation.

large-scale

Focuses on the size and extent of the object or phenomenon being described.

gross

Refers to the overall or general aspect, relating to the entirety of the object.

overall

Highlights the comprehensive or total view of something.

general

Indicates a broad or non-specific view, focusing on the absence of detail.

FAQs

How is "macroscopic" used in scientific writing?

In scientific writing, "macroscopic" is used to describe properties or phenomena that are observable or measurable at a scale visible to the naked eye, without the need for microscopic tools or techniques. It's often contrasted with "microscopic" to differentiate between scales of observation.

What's the difference between "macroscopic" and "microscopic"?

"Macroscopic" refers to things visible to the naked eye or observable on a large scale, while "microscopic" pertains to things too small to be seen without the aid of a microscope. They represent opposite ends of the scale of observation.

What can I say instead of "macroscopic" in general contexts?

In general contexts, you can use alternatives like "visible", "observable", "large-scale", or "general" depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. The best choice depends on whether you're emphasizing visibility, size, or scope.

Is "macroscopic" only used in science?

While commonly used in science to differentiate scales of observation, "macroscopic" can also be used in other fields to describe things that are observable or measurable on a larger, more general scale. However, it's most precise and frequently used in scientific contexts.